A/N: I'm sorry, for some reason these chapters are all really short. XD
6. Further Forensics
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"I'll look from a distance, thanks."
"Honestly, Braig. I knew you'd say that. That's why I've got these."
Braig and Dilan leaned close to the photos Even slid over to them.
"Notice anything?" the scientist asked.
"What's this?" Dilan asked, tapping the picture. "That mark on his neck. It looks almost like…"
"Exactly. I found bits of the rope under his fingernails, but there wasn't enough DNA to pinpoint his attacker."
Braig leaned back in his chair, earning a disapproving look from Even.
"So the killer tried to strangle him, he put up a fight, the perp figured it would be easier to stab him and get it over with. Well, fuck. Tron was right."
"We're looking at the latest in the doctor murders," Even finished, looking far too smug for his own good.
"We find out who killed Ansem, we nab the same guy who's been evading us for years," Dilan said. "Do you have anything else, Even?"
"This killer is good," replied Even. "He left just as much of his DNA at this crime scene as he did at all the others—that is to say, not enough to identify him by. He does nothing wrong. He gets in and out without raising suspicion. He never leaves the murder weapon. He cleans up after himself and shuts the door on his way out. It's like he knows exactly what we'll be looking for."
Braig and Dilan exchanged glances.
"The only foreign DNA I've found is still Xehanort's," Even went on.
"To be expected, since he visited earlier."
"And got comfortable, judging by the state of the bedsheets."
"Even, that is gross."
"I'm stating the facts, Braig. But I do have something else for you."
"I knew it. I can tell when you're gloating."
"I found this in the wounds," Even said, handing over a packet of what looked like sand. "Traces of the murder weapon."
"Great. What is it?"
"Glass."
Dilan peered at the packet through narrowed eyes.
"Even, I think you're onto something."
"We need to go back to the scene," Braig mused. "And take Xehanort along."
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"Well?" Braig asked quietly. Xehanort looked around, eyes sad.
"What am I looking for?"
"Anything that's missing that should be here."
"Something is missing," Xehanort said softly. Braig hesitated, then put an arm around his friend's shoulders. It was a familiar enough gesture of comfort. Dilan looked away politely.
"Okay. We need to know if something is misplaced, or not there entirely. Just go through the place. You know where everything belongs. Anything you can give us is helpful."
"Try the bedroom first," Dilan suggested. "See if anything has changed since you came that night."
Xehanort dutifully entered the room, Braig and Dilan following. He looked around, eyes skipping over the bloodstains on the carpet. After a minute or so, they came to rest on the bedside table and he frowned. Offering no explanation, he went to the kitchen and checked the cupboard, then the dishwasher.
"Did CSI move anything?" he asked.
"Only the body. Sorry," Braig apologized hastily. Xehanort shook his head.
"There should be a glass on the bedside table," he said. "It was always the same routine: dinner, a drink and a book, bed."
"Book yes, drink no," Braig said. The triumph was obvious in his voice. He and Dilan exchanged glances again.
"Tell me what's going on," Xehanort said.
"Sorry, Xeha," Braig said. "You're not on this case, remember?"
"I should be," Xehanort hissed. "Tell me. At least let me stay."
"But the regulations—"
"Let him," Braig interrupted. "Just let him stay. Xeha, Dilan and I are trying to figure out exactly how this happened."
Xehanort nodded and stepped back. Braig paced around.
"So. Ansem's light was on when we found him, so he was still awake when the killer came in. He must have seen him coming. If it was someone he knew, he wouldn't have panicked until he saw the rope."
"Rope?" Xehanort murmured.
"If it was a stranger, he would have gotten up right away," Braig went on. "Either way, he turned his back, or was turned. The rope got around his neck, but he wasn't going down without a fight. There was a struggle. The glass on the table was broken, probably hit the wall. The killer gave up on his premeditated M.O., grabbed one of the shards of glass, and stabbed him instead. Even says the third stab killed him. The slash across the throat was intended to hide the rope mark."
"All this about a rope," Xehanort said. "Like the doctor killer."
"It's a possibility we have to consider," Dilan informed him. "The M.O. would match up, if he'd been able to go through with it."
"And Ansem's been on the case since the beginning," Xehanort said. "With my help."
"Yeah, about that, we'll need copies of the files."
"This isn't fair, Braig!" Xehanort exploded.
"I said it before, I'll say it again: you're too close to this one, Xeha. I know you want to help, but these are standard regulations. You know you'd say the same if it were me."
Xehanort was silent, staring at the stained floor.
"Fine," he whispered, then turned and left.
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A/N: And remember, you can start throwing in guesses at any time. u.u